Time Running Out In Special Session
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This is the first time lawmakers have needed a special session since Republicans took over Alabama government 5 years ago.
Lawmakers have had a hard time agreeing all session, and that’s carried over into August.
House members narrowly passed a budget with a 156 million dollar cut to medicaid, which Governor Robert Bentley says won’t work.
“Medicaid certainly does help the poor, those who can’t afford insurance, it does. But you know what, it’s also the underpinnings of all of our healthcare system in the state of Alabama,” said Gov. Bentley.
Senator Arthur Orr heads the senate’s general fund committee. He doesn’t expect the measure to make it very far with his colleagues. What he does want is people at home to call their lawmakers with what they’d like to see, since there won’t be a last minute save.
“I think the problem with montgomery is people have heard the wolf crying through the years and somehow magically one time money always seems to appear and come from somewhere. At this point, I’ve said it before I don’t see any rabbits being pulled out of the hat at the 11th hour. There are no rabbits so we’re set with the reality we have,” said Sen. Orr.
One group of senators has at least one other idea since all the tax proposals aren’t making it into the discussion.
Republicans, democrats, and the lone independent are trying to close the corporate tax loophole, which they say could bring in upwards of 50 million dollars.
“That’s huge and that generates a ton of money that could be used to help solve this crisis in which we hope going forward in the next few days that this will get a great debate on the floor,” said Sen. Harri Ann Smith.
